National Barcode Day commemorates decades of efficiency and accuracy that began on June 26, 1974, when a clerk scanned a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, OH. On that day, the barcode system invented by George Lauer, an IBM engineer, began to change the world.
Since then, barcodes have been revolutionizing industries all over the world. Barcodes, also known as UPC, 1 Dimensional (1D) codes, contain data that help businesses and organizations do their jobs more easily. A more modern version of the barcode is called a QR code, or a 2 dimensional (2D) code. The QR code contains even more data than the 1D code.
Barcodes contain a wealth of information, including pricing, product, dates, manufacturer, and shipping. They are ideal for tracking inventory and sales, but they do so much more than that. Almost every industry uses barcodes, and they likely make your life easier without you even knowing it.
Where can you find barcodes besides retail products?
- VINs – Tracking a car’s history became easier when a barcode was added to the VIN.
- Libraries – Barcodes track books, videos, periodicals, resources in and out of the library.
- Logistics – Every major shipper uses barcodes to track shipments and deliver your orders.
- Healthcare – Barcodes help keep patient care more streamlined and records at the provider’s fingertips.
- Agriculture – Farmers use barcodes to track harvests and livestock.
What are barcodes famous for?
Barcodes are famous for revolutionizing inventory management, retail operations, and supply chain logistics. Introduced in the 1970s, barcodes provide a simple and efficient means of encoding data in a visually readable format. Each barcode contains a unique sequence of lines and spaces that represent specific information, such as product details, pricing, and identification numbers. By scanning barcodes with a barcode scanner, businesses can quickly and accurately capture data, automate processes, and streamline operations.
Barcodes are ubiquitous in retail environments, where they enable fast and accurate checkout processes, inventory tracking, and management. Additionally, barcodes are used in various other industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and transportation, to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance overall productivity.
Imagine how different our lives would be without these unobtrusive black and white bars and that satisfying beep every time we scan a product, delivery, or file. It is certainly a technology that will be around for a long time, simplifying our lives. That’s another reason to celebrate National Barcode Day!
To learn more about the barcode products that Metalcraft offers, contact us today at [email protected].
(source https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-barcode-day-june-26/)
 | About the Author: Marianne AlvaradoMarianne Alvarado is our Vice President of Sales. Alvarado joined Metalcraft in March of 2000 as a Territory Specialist, became Sales Manager in January 2022 and was named Vice President of Sales during August of 2023. She leads both the Outside and Inside Sales teams. Marianne lives in Davenport with her husband, Dave Beeman. Mobile Phone: 641-529-9492 Email: [email protected] Office: 3360 9th St. SW, Mason City, IA 50401 Office Phone: 641-423-9460 |
